She had previously met Qantas representatives in Canberra on March 19, seeking information about the future of the Hobart call centre after the airline announced plans to slash 5000 jobs across the network.

“Qantas made it clear they cannot guarantee that the Hobart call centre would remain open,” she said.

Senator Singh said Qantas was expected to take several months to reach a decision.

“In the meantime, you’ve got 300 workers who are unsure of their fate,” she said.

“Tony Abbott has given a signal that he supports Qantas cutting 5000 jobs. It’s up to Mr Hodgman to make sure those jobs don’t come from the Hobart workforce.

“He’s made tourism his portfolio, yet he’s remaining very secretive about what he’s doing to preserve those jobs.”

Senator Singh said the State Government should push Hobart’s advantages.

“Hobart is already a stable and low-cost location for call centre operations,” she said.

“We have competitive rents compared to the mainland.”

She said the State Government could use the Vodafone deal as a “template” for the sorts of incentives it could offer to Qantas, which included funding for infrastructure and payroll tax cuts.

A spokeswoman for the Premier said: “
The Government is committed to doing everything it can to create an environment which creates and secures jobs.

“We will continue to talk to Qantas and it would be inappropriate to reveal the details of any conversations.”

Comments on this story

david dobbin of Launceston Posted at 9:49 AM April 10, 2014

And Jason - as for 'The problem was that the Laborites were spending money faster than the Chinese could print it.'.... for 11 of the last 16 years here in Tasmania Labor ran budget surpluses. That's why we still have a AA+ credit rating. Surpluses came to a halt after the GFC when Tassie lost $1.5 billion in GST revenue.

pat wilson of hobart town Posted at 8:32 AM April 10, 2014

david dobbin of Launceston. POSTED AT 4:09 AM TODAY. It cuts both ways david. So, after 4 years of blaming the world economy, the GFC and telling us how much better off we are in Australia than those in Spain, Italy, Greece, Pakistan, Tajikistan and wherever else your crystal ball of world wide travel takes you, you're now going to suggest its all the Lib's fault are you? Remember, it's going to take at least 8 years to fix the last Green/Labor government's mess david, Rome wasn't built in a day. Oh, and as for Labor's role in the "myriad job shedding"? Labor and The Greens were the merchants of the TFA which directly led to the retrenchment and lay off of hundreds of forest industry personnel as well as secondary employees working in businesses attached to the forest industry - FACT

david dobbin of Launceston Posted at 4:09 AM April 10, 2014

Jason - this is the first time in all the long years I have been reading your comments that you have said 'We do actually see the fallout from the world economy.' You have been effusive in condemnation of Labor and the Greens for causing every job loss, and every industry downturn in Tasmania. Now you have suddenly discovered the 'world economy', and the effects of the GFC on Tasmania's economy. All rather convenient Jason, now that the Libs face exactly the same 'world markets' as Labor did. Same to you, Peter Turner - constant critic of Labor for every and any job loss and economic problem, now suddenly the state government is not responsible for Qantas's financial situation. So how was Labor responsible for the financial situation of ACL Bearings, or Caterpillar, or Simplot, or any of the myriad job-shedding companies affected by the GFC?